Placebo Effect: An Analysis of Its Role in Healthcare Settings

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the placebo effect, examining its multifaceted role within the realms of biomedicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), and integrative medicine. The introduction defines the placebo effect and its psychological underpinnings, highlighting its use and rejection in biomedicine. The main body delves into the historical fascination with the placebo effect, its neurological basis, and its application in treating various conditions such as depression and pain. It explores how randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are used to eliminate placebo effects in biomedicine. The essay also analyzes the role of the placebo effect in CAM practices, the importance of patient-physician relationships, and the implications for research and practice. Furthermore, it discusses the concept of RCTs as the golden standard in clinical methods and the importance of understanding the relationship between the patient and the practitioner. The conclusion reiterates the significance of the placebo effect in modern healthcare, emphasizing its psychological and physiological impact.

Placebo effect

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
Analysing effect of placebo under biomedicine, randomizes controlling trails eliminate this
treatment......................................................................................................................................4
Role of placebo effect in CAM particularly, used as part of CAM philosophy as well as part
of CAM treatment.......................................................................................................................7
Fundamentally various approaches in reference of integrative medicine & implications for
research and practice...................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
References ......................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
The term Placebo defines a substance treatment which has a procedure wholly connected
to psychological values. It consists of placebos mostly commonly known as “sugar pills” which
actually have no effect on body but the brain is tricked into believing that its a proper
medication. Placebo effect is the reaction one has after such treatment, its just a positive or
negative reaction which might lead for the symptoms of their sickness decreases or it vanishes
completely. The file will explain more use of this practice & rejection of biomedicine. The
effects of placebo effect in biomedicine & how its eliminated from brief study. Its study in CAM
philosophy plus vital role experiment as part of it.
MAIN BODY
The study of placebo effect has always fascinated scientists and it has always been
curious topic for researchers. Since several decades science and technology has developed and
later it was concluded that this treatment works on core factors of neurological workings. This
effect has always grabbed attention of scientists across globe. It has treated several diseases like
depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, menopause, pain etc. In this individuals are psychologically
treated in which strengthening of brain to recover it self and make body realise that its all back to
healthy and sound physically(Torous and Firth, 2016).The most basic understanding of this
treatment is that it produces a symptomatic kind of relief for treatment of depression, physical
pain, fatigue and continues nauseous feeling. It connects to interpersonal element, which every
body produces to heal naturally. The working of this effect has several queries which needs to be
understood for knowing all its element's properly. For instance does this treatment have any
clinical phenomenon to which the answer is that there is no significant definition for this term
but the effect is a generic in nature which is used for benefit of individuals in context of clinical
encounter connected to treatment provided, relation both patient and physician share as they
portray recovery chart of psychological effects by intervention of this method. It is also advised
by doctor because it helps in progressing clinical medication as well. Generally a person going
through for example depression its all about the brain and a portion of it getting affected due to
some emotional loss, incident or accident(Lindheimer, O’Connor and Dishman, 2015). It is
treated in clinical medication but psychologists suggests to take help from this treatment as well
since person does not need pills they need mental relaxation to recover fast from it. Many times

the relations shared between the patient and practitioner generates placebo effect in which
conversation between both can produce these effects without any need of discrete techniques of
treatment.
Their are two types of experiments done in this research first randomizes placebo
controlled by drugs and clinical way to produce effects in brain and body of patient. Second one
is made through general conversation and relaxation of brain by tricking it into thinking in
another direction(Lidstone, 2014).It depends on person to what level of experiment they will
need to get fully treated. In scientific terms this effect is always considered to be psychological
phenomenon & their are generalised some facts about placebos mentioned below:
 It has been tried and tested through thousands of experiment and doctors worldwide
suggest to take this treatment to their patients.
 Companies manufacturing drugs have to prove that the effect of their drug is more
efficient than placebo, then only they get approved.
 Its been on records that it effects many body parts of an individual.
 Its has also been experimented that the colour and size of pills produce more stronger
impact compared to smaller pills.
 Several scientists believe self-healing element of placebo effect can be understood by
evolutionary biology.
Analysing effect of placebo under biomedicine, randomizes controlling trails eliminate this
treatment.
Studying this concept needs to understand different perspective of people involved in
treatment such as scientists, patients and physicians(Kuten‐Shorrer and et. al., 2014). Their are
basic three interventions which play a vital role in understanding the concepts. First there is
experimented studies have controlled intervention which give effects and their results after
blinding is enabled. Second placebo effects experiment to see actual effects on a person. It has
been recorded and made statement on the workings of this treatment in which it is said that
placebos are just a fake or dummy treatment and actually they are done to figure out the real
effects in the treatment of placebos which should correlate with several health and care of
patient. It is said that this effect is actually the effect of medical treatment taken by a person. The
environment, procedural conversation of two people and reassurance of getting treated from a
good doctor can also produce symptoms of placebo. It has been recorded that it can enhance or

bring a drastic change in effectiveness of pharmaceutical therapies, in a study it was seen in the
case of a patients problem in episodic migraine(Kirsch, 2014). This has shows the different
perspective of using this technique as the conscious and unconscious perceptions help in
changing the perception on person towards their illness. It has been experimented from a the past
decade that a wide range of clinical research mixed with such therapy has resulted in providing
the evidence that the root or base of workings of placebo effects is connected to neurobiology.
The clinical studies of asthma, headache and bowel syndrome have shows that this methods
works in their recovery period and getting back to being healthy. Also the placebo effects are so
strong and effective in their basic nature that one can actually reach to another level of effects
known as “Nocebo effects”.
It has been derived from several studies and experiment that which ever medication one person
seeks unless they clarify things in their brain by removing all negative energy they cannot
recover that soon. These effects actually emerge when patient is in a emotional zones and their
brain releases several chemicals which were made so that therapy should work along with correct
medication(Khan and Brown, 2015).
The placebo effect has been used in several medical practices and they have to be done
with proper care and experiment. Their have been recorded several changes in randomized,
double-bling, placebo controlled trails which it was concluded that placebo effect does not get
separate at any point of experiment. Their have been several articles and arguments on the effects
of placebo on other clinical techniques of healing people. It has been realised that clinical
treatment needs the help of placebo effects to completely recover the person with effective and
efficient results. If we can compare the effects in comparison to randomized and placebo,
treating depression from a selective method is done, with one with placebo run phase and another
no such things. It was recorded that the one with placebo recovered quick, healthier and have
overcome their issue of depression(Howe, Goyer and Crum, 2017).
Also one important aspect of this study is randomized controlled trails (RCTs) its is
proven to be the best clinical method for early and healthy recovery of patients. Their are several
methods and techniques used and understanding concept of planning, performing and analysing
RCT. Its is recoded that it cannot be performed unless a proper procedure planning is done prior
to experiment. To answer any query related to illness of a person a standardizes social care is
done through this method and the qualitative result is most probability rectified in this method.

The qualitative research and work is properly analysed after performing it and a critical
accumulation of data is made so that the correct care treatment can be calculated for
patients(Holmes, Tiwari and Kennedy, 2016). The RCTs are considered as golden standard
level to explain and accumulate proper efficiency and safety of method. It has the power to
dominate any other method and maintain levels of standards any methods should maintain to
become successful. In the clinical terms these are required to answer all queries and issues which
any patients is going through. It can clarify all aspects so that one can conclude a final result.
Also the best point of this treatment is that its very accurate so there is a very low chance of
systematic error or any wrong results.
The primary objective of this trials is to showcase the workings of a new treatment and benefits
compared to placebo then the assumption made in beginning is rejected and the one which
differed are also removed from it. An alternative hypothesis is assumed when a significantly
difference is experimented and is ascertained between both two treatment. In this study there are
basic two objectives to attain first the primary one is to complete the methods correctly and the
second objective is to investigate all accumulated results and make proper comparisons which
will help in treating the patients(Goldenholz, 2015).
The RCT is believed to decrease importance of placebo effect as it is always treated to be
the golden standard to accumulate the actual issue with the patients, in comparison to placebo
effect it can be accumulated that one has to pick out several aspects and this methods is very
effective and crucial to perform in the cases of depression and great anxiety in an individual. To
make the correct assumption of what treatment should be considered the most an experiment was
held. In this two separate groups were created both were given different treatments and results
were calculated. Each person had a different reaction and the one with clinical and placebo effect
were treated more efficiently and effectively. It is provided that yes clinical treatment is by far
more important things but things are depression, anxiety and pain are best treated by placebo
effect. In this the patient will not even realise that they are getting treated and feel normal about
the fact that they are sick(Faria and et. al., 2014). This is a psychological mentality to get
negative in wrong environment so people are pushed towards their brighter side of life & self-
help themselves to get out of issue.

Role of placebo effect in CAM particularly, used as part of CAM philosophy as well as part of
CAM treatment.
Complementary and alternative health care and medical practices (CAM) is actually a
bunch of several medical health care programs, products and systems which in present time are
not considered to be liable for correct treatment. Their are a list of practices which are performed
through CAM and the best outcomes are found from it only. These are tested safe to perform in
reference for best outcomes for patient(Espay, 2015). It is actually grouped in 5 major divisions
known as:
 Alternative medical systematic
 Mind-body interventions
 Biological based treatment
 Manipulative &body based treatment
 Energy therapies
These five division defines all the basic elements which are used and are very essential to
perform CAM. It roots from the basic facts that conventional medicine is properly based over
being safe, secure and care while creating trail methods. Medical treatment differ from condition
and situation of patients. This method is basically focus on the fact that every persons body has
ability & strength to heal itself. Healing is a natural process every injured or ill person has to go
through it to recover. While generally this concept is rejected by all clinical scientists but
generally if compared one can connect several elements which are common in both sides. Here,
the basic concept which is to be used in this type of treatment is relationship between the patient
and the physician, also the alternative methods to induce effects of healing the body naturally, all
factor which will effect health of patients, it includes mind spirit and body patience of individual.
Their is a huge increase in the natural influence of healing body should be performed in
fact several collages and institutes have to make and perform such type of medication. They have
started to give importance to clinical as well as CAM medical practices as it has been proven and
justified that several things in both help the patient to heal quick and recover healthily.
Neuropathy is also an part of this where body shall be relaxed and ,made better in the
environment. These practices are the core roots of such treatment and have a great influence over
treatment techniques. Acupuncture is also performed to bring relief and release stress from boy

and relax it to the level that all the muscles and pain occurring in them becomes relaxed and thee
person starts believed more light.
Fundamentally various approaches in reference of integrative medicine & implications for
research and practice
Medicine and healthcare is one of the most important aspects in today's era and the study
and research related to it has always been fascinated by scientists. Its very important to keep
changing and develop new methods that should be invented or discovered for the betterment and
correct treatment of patients. In every year some new disease is discovered and the best solution
to heal it is the main aim of the people. The basic principle which should be followed by the fact
that there is always best solution to conclude. The economic pressure one has it decreases the
time one physician spends over making patterns and trails to figure out the best solution in the
field. It is very clear that science has developed on several levels, plus providing from mental
healing and care is one of the best option to be performed. The medicine practice now a days has
realised that humans are treated on several levels. This includes being emotional, mental and
spiritual which all should be diagnosed on their levels. It is basically to conclude the fact that
healing is utmost in all levels and its very important to treat the person according tot their
issue(Ashar, Chang and Wager, 2017).
CONCLUSION
The study shows various results of methods used to treat a person suffering from mental
issue with the explicit treatment of placebo effect. It is a natural healing source which helps in
self healing. It can be compared with other treatments like CAM, and other self healing
treatments.

References
Books and journals
Ashar, Y. K., Chang, L. J. and Wager, T. D., 2017. Brain mechanisms of the placebo effect: an
affective appraisal account. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology. 13. pp.73-98.
Espay, A. J 2015. Placebo effect of medication cost in Parkinson disease: a randomized double-
blind study. Neurology. 84(8). pp.794-802.
Faria, V and et. al., 2014. Harnessing the placebo effect in pediatric migraine clinic. The Journal
of pediatrics. 165(4). pp.659-665.
Goldenholz, D. M. 2015. Confusing placebo effect with natural history in epilepsy: a big data
approach. Annals of neurology. 78(3). pp.329-336.
Holmes, R. D., Tiwari, A. K. and Kennedy, J. L., 2016. Mechanisms of the placebo effect in pain
and psychiatric disorders. The pharmacogenomics journal, 16(6), p.491.
Howe, L. C., Goyer, J. P. and Crum, A. J., 2017. Harnessing the placebo effect: Exploring the
influence of physician characteristics on placebo response. Health Psychology. 36(11).
p.1074.
Khan, A. and Brown, W. A., 2015. Antidepressants versus placebo in major depression: an
overview. World Psychiatry. 14(3). pp.294-300.
Kirsch, I., 2014. Antidepressants and the placebo effect. Zeitschrift für Psychologie. 222(3).
p.128.
Kuten‐Shorrer, M and et. al., 2014. Placebo effect in burning mouth syndrome: a systematic
review. Oral diseases. 20(3). pp.e1-e6.
Lidstone, S. C., 2014. Great expectations: the placebo effect in Parkinson’s disease.
In Placebo (pp. 139-147). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Lindheimer, J. B., O’Connor, P. J. and Dishman, R. K., 2015. Quantifying the placebo effect in
psychological outcomes of exercise training: a meta-analysis of randomized
trials. Sports Medicine. 45(5). pp.693-711.
Torous, J. and Firth, J., 2016. The digital placebo effect: mobile mental health meets clinical
psychiatry. The Lancet Psychiatry. 3(2). pp.100-102.